Belgaum: The persistent efforts of the Maharashtra Ekikaran Yuva Samiti have finally prompted the Karnataka Education Department to officially acknowledge the shortage of Marathi-medium textbooks in several government schools across the border region. The department has now initiated the process to make the required textbooks available, marking a significant step toward protecting the educational rights of Marathi-speaking minority students.
In June 2026, the Yuva Samiti submitted a detailed memorandum to the Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI), Belgaum, highlighting the lack of Marathi-medium textbooks in schools merged under the Karnataka Public Schools (KPS) scheme. The organisation also pointed out that Value Education textbooks were unavailable in Marathi, affecting students’ learning.
The issue was subsequently raised with the National Commission for Linguistic Minorities, which took serious note of the matter and directed the Additional Chief Secretary of Karnataka’s Education Department to ensure that Marathi-speaking students receive education in their mother tongue by providing the necessary textbooks.
Following these representations, the Karnataka Textbook Society (KTBS), Bengaluru, sought details of schools facing textbook shortages along with their UDISE codes. On July 17, 2026, Maharashtra Ekikaran Yuva Samiti President Ankush Kesarkar and General Secretary Shrikant Kadam urged the Belgaum District Education Officer to immediately forward the required information to Bengaluru, stressing that administrative delays were adversely affecting students’ education.
As a result of the sustained follow-up, on July 21, 2026, the Deputy Director of Public Instruction officially informed the Commissioner of School Education, Bengaluru, that several Marathi-medium schools in the border region were facing a shortage of textbooks.
The report stated that while regular Marathi-medium schools had received textbooks, shortages still existed in ECCE, bilingual, Karnataka Public Schools (KPS), and PM Shri schools. The department recommended immediate approval for the translation and preparation of Marathi textbooks and noted that experienced Marathi teachers from Belgaum and Chikodi districts are available to undertake the translation work.
According to official figures, 43 Marathi-medium schools require textbooks, including:
- 25 ECCE schools
- 15 Bilingual schools
- 2 Karnataka Public Schools (KPS)
- 1 PM Shri school
The Maharashtra Ekikaran Yuva Samiti welcomed the development, stating that the Karnataka Government has finally acknowledged the issue due to continuous public pressure. Attention is now focused on the School Education Commissioner in Bengaluru, whose approval is expected to expedite the translation process and ensure Marathi textbooks reach students at the earliest.
